The following are a list of resources to help get you started for self-employment.

www.SBA.gov
The site for the US Small Business Administration, providing advice for small businesses since 1953. You can find local chapters to help with everything from establishing a business plan to how to recruit new employees. There are also 25 on-line courses. Best of all, its FREE.

www.SBA.gov/sbdc
Part of the SBA are the programs under the Small Business Development Centers. Here you will find extensive educational programs. Contact the local chapter and you can probably find someone you work with on an on-going basis to help guide your business. There are periodic workshops available with either site that you can take for a day or half-day, or even programs which last for several months.

www.business.gov
This is the official business link to the US Government.

www.mymoney.gov
A site provided by the US Financial Literacy and Education Commission. There is an excellent section of Starting a Small Business with valuable links.

www.score.org
SCORE provides counselors for small businesses. Most are retired business people who volunteer their time and expertise to help entrepreneurs. Find a local chapter and ask to meet with someone that has a background similar to the venture you want to start. If there is more than one SCORE office in your area, you should meet with people from the different offices. Talking with several people can help give you more ideas, or you just may have a better match with someone.

www.entreprenuer.com
Help for the entrepreneur. A wide range of information and help if you're thinking about owning a franchise.

www.inc.com
Another online resource for entrepreneurs.

www.franchisesolutions.com
Starting a completely new business can be a daunting proposition, and one reason many elect to buy an existing franchise. There is often immediate brand recognition, and the franchiser provides a set of rules and procedures to operate the business. This site provides a comprehensive collection of different franchises.

www.powerhomebiz.com
Information particularly good for those who want a home-based business.

www.workingfromhome.com
Paul and Sarah Edwards have written numerous books and have provided counseling for anyone who is or wants to be self-employed. A good resource of unbiased objective information.

Finance

We do not endorse or recommend any specific investments, financial institutions, or financial investment programs. We provide the following list of resources simply as a guide.

www.mymoney.gov
The site for the US Financial Literacy and Education Commission. The goal is to provide financial education finance for all Americans. Provides information on a wide range of topics and a separate section on retirement planning.

www.firstgov.gov
The US Governments official web portal and a great first place to go on a range of topics.

www.ssa.gov
Site for the Social Security Administration. Important to keep track of any changes in the rules and regulations.

www.aaii.com
This is the site for American Association for Individual Investors. Basic membership is only $29 a year. They provide numerous educational seminars in addition to the extensive information on their site.

www.fool.com
The Motley Fool has a separate section on retirement planning.

www.vanguard.com & www.fidelity.com
Vanguard and Fidelity are well-known, and whether or not you invest with them, their sites provide financial information.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement
Frontline, a show presented on Public Broadcasting, presented a show in November, 2006, addressing the question, Can you afford to retire? There are also a number of links to other sites about planning for retirement on their web pages.

www.3.marketwatch.com/store
The Hulbert Digest is not an investment newsletter. Rather it tracks the performance of investment newsletters.